Instilling drops in a child’s eyes can be difficult because they’re often afraid it will hurt when the drops go in. Although some drops sting, children often complain simply because a drop “fell” into their eyes. The following technique often makes the process easier. It helps if you explain what you’re planning to do before you do it.
1. Ask your child to lie down on a couch or bed.
2. Make sure the room isn’t too bright, so it doesn’t bother her to look up at the ceiling lights.
3. Ask your child to turn her head a little to one side and close her eyes.
4. Unscrew the bottle and place the opening 1/2 to 1 inch above the place where the eyelids come together on the “nose” side of the eye.
5. Tell your child that you’re going to put a drop of medicine on her eyelid. Suggest that she can imagine a raindrop gently hitting her eye. (If you’re not opposed to rewarding your child for cooperating with medical procedures, offer to give her a treat if she cooperates with you.)
6. Squeeze the bottle so one or two drops fall onto her eyelid.
7. Ask your child to count to five.
8. When she reaches the number five, say “Blast Off” (or the equivalent) and ask her to blink her eyes a few times. This allows the medication to spread across the child’s eye.
9. Wipe away any excess liquid with a tissue.
10. Repeat with the second eye.
